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Sometimes we take requests...
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and engineer a 35 mm Boxcar stem
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A number of new mountain bikes are built for the 35mm stem length, so riders RELENTLESSLY bugged us for this new design.
And we're glad they did.
Our stem is lighter than the competition, weighing in at 118 grams (including hardware), and stronger than an ox due to a combination of the highest quality aluminum produced (American 2024) and our stubborn obsessions.
It's precision machined to .002 tolerance (crazy tight for a stem), and we use over 20 different end mills, drills, saws and taps to make ONE FRIGGIN' STEM.
Your stem.
We know how to dial it in. Available in Black, Silver, Polished, and our Limited Edition color, which is currently blue .
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And now, a love story (but with none of the gross kissy stuff).
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Sometimes we make videos for instruction. Sometimes for fun.
And sometimes for nerds.
Travis of @californiatravis (who works here, duh) and Cameron Falconer (@coffeeandeggs) got together and made a love child called, The Krusty Diamond (Cameron being the mom in this relationship - he did all the work).
The Krusty Diamond has had write ups and praise. Still, the amount of devotion that goes into creating a bike like this and the amount of fancy that transpires as a result of it, are attributes most can't comprehend.
But some people DO get it. And this long-ass video is for them.
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Hope this doesn't seem out of the blue...
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But we're ending the blue streak soon, because ya know, limited edition and all...
We recommend purchasing the last of the blue if:
- You like to match and you own a lot of blue.
- If you don't like to match and don't own a lot of blue.
- If you want to bring out the blues of your eyes (works best when eyes are actually blue).
- If you know someone who rides bikes, likes blue, and is also mad at you for that thing you did, and you need to say sorry with an amazing, indestructible (unlike friendships) gift.
- If you've been coveting this color, but procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to make your move.
If ANY OF THAT applies to you, go to the website now before you realize...you blue it.
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1. You're a metalsmith, and you ride bikes, AND you've baked cycling into your jewelry brand - was that kind of a natural, no-brainer approach for you, or did you/do you struggle with how to blend the two, or has it come about serendipitously as you Instagrammed your cycling and jewelry worlds?
I graduated from school (BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing) the same year I decided to start going after upgrade points as a Cat 4 racer. I'd been working at a bar in a delicious tex-mex restaurant, and daydreaming about how cool it would be if I got to do both of these things I loved full time. So in a way, wanting freedom to ride bikes more was a catalyst in wanting to take steps to create my business.
When I first quit the taco industry and went full time self-employed, my shop/ studio space existed *inside* a bike shop. Between that and racing, I was able to grow an unexpected, really amazing relationship with the cycling world. I don't make jewelry with mini bicycles or anything, though I suppose head badges are essentially jewelry that bicycles wear. I think the cycling community is a family of people who love bikes and are stoked to support a bike racer's business.
Now so many of my cycling heroes wear my jewelry: Ellen Noble, Amanda Naumann, and Skylar Schneider, and Maghalie Rochette have all commissioned pieces from me! Recently I've gotten a bunch of orders for custom stamped necklaces that say 'Shred the Patriarchy' which has made me smile.
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2. How did you get into metalsmithing?
I'd always wanted to go to art school, and I thought I would be a drawing and painting major. A high school friend's mom was a full time independent jeweler, and I knew she had studied at UGA as well, so I was inspired to take Intro to Metals. Something about holding a torch while getting class credit had me instantly signed up. The same friend's mom gave me the Univega that became my first race bike, so I suppose the connection really did happen from the beginning.
3. You make the coolest head badges! Tell us about that whole process and how you got started making them.
It started with the guys at Loose Nuts (the shop that I had my studio in) wanting head badges for their bikes. The first one I made was an image of a bag of Tostitos chips to go on a Salsa mountain bike. I think the background says "Nom nom nom." The second one I made was for a Salsa Horsethief, and was a grim reaper holding a horse head. After having so much fun with those first two, I set up an order system to make completely custom badges. I think that type of super dynamic work, involving trying to give sheet metal a personality, continually challenges me. It keeps me on my toes and I love it! I just got back sawing the metal to create tiny flames for a 6mm tall campfire.
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4. Where do you see your business going and what do you feel makes your work so unique?
Ideally, I want to grow but still have total creative control. I want to have my hands on all the metal, but I want to eventually be able to delegate stuff like photographing pieces for my website.
I honestly think my work stays unique because I spend so much time in the woods! Its part of my process. I ride, get more ideas than I know what to do with, and bring to fruition the ones I'm most excited about. I also think my work has a certain look to it because I to do everything by hand, from drawing with a sharpie on sheet metal to cutting it out with my tiny saw, to hand stamping letters that are always slightly crooked. I think personality adds value.
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5. You've got a big racing/traveling/mentoring gig coming up this year you just announced. Give us the low down.
I'm truly really happy that it's coming together! Through being on Jam fund, I got opportunities to mentor youth cyclists and beginners. I found out I LOVE doing that. I'm pretty in touch with what it feels like to be a beginner, because I was terrified of riding up onto a curb not that long ago. I was picked last for gym class. So I see lots of potential in anyone who wants to ride or race, (wherever they are starting!) and I want to help them realize that.
I also wanted my racing and my business to be about more than just getting results or making money. So for me its not only a way to tie these two things I love (and spend all of my time doing) together, but a way to make an impact beyond myself. And my hope is that it gets more women on bikes. I've been a total cyclocross evangelist since my first race.
My first race this year is the Huracan 300+, a bikepacking adventure that I'm really excited about and also slightly terrified of. But if I want to tell other riders to try to new things, who am I to not go for it? In any event, I'm bound to learn things and have fun. After Huracan, I'll be doing some XC mountain bike races on my trusty steel steed, 650 Beyonce, awesome mentorship events like Little Bellas, and then a cyclocross schedule that includes more clinics and camps, and UCI races as well as my favorite local ones like Night Weasels.
I'd love to establish myself as a resource that newcomers feel comfortable asking anything that would help them get to a start line. I'll be taking on a few guest riders this season who will get entry fees and mentorship to help them get started in the sport, or to further their bike dreams.
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6. What's your ultimate bicycle vacation?
I want to ride mountain bikes in New Zealand. Those trails look so dreamy. I also already have plans in place to do a bunch of bike touring with my fiancee in about 50 years. We plan to be salt-encrusted cross-country bike touring nerds one day. So basically when I retire I'll go on permanent bike vacation.
7. Did you design your rad new race kit? And if so, what's your deal with roses?
I gave input to Roz Patterson (RZ Designs) who made my vision so much cooler than I even knew it could be. She does really great work.
I love roses for a few reasons... the placement as a sleeve is sort of like a tattoo sleeve, and I love traditional tattoos. I have 7 giant roses tattooed on me.
They're also a really cool symbol of tough femininity (blossoms, thorns,) and are a nod to Ellen Rose Noble, who has them on her supporter logos/ bicycle top cap for that reason. She has done so much to forward women's cycling, and is a great friend to me as well as just being totally badass.
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When Rich from House Industries contacted me about a possible collaboration, it was really hard to hide my excitement. About a year prior, I had bought a tee shirt after stumbling onto their site while running down the Google Brick road of Industrial Design. (which means I was googling industrial design websites). I was instantly hooked.
We did a Racer brake design together for their new Velo series font. It was a proud moment for me. Then I signed up for a design themed ride through San Francisco, he was setting up and we got to talk a bit.
I was saddened to learn he died unexpectedly recently. He was a bike guy through and through that also, by the way, did some really breakthrough design work. Plus, a super warm and welcoming individual. He will be missed.
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Frostbike: It’s why we won’t be at NAHBS.
Our biggest distributor, Quality Bicycle Products, throws an industry-only event every winter dubbed Frostbike. And for a good reason: it’s held in February in Minnesota.
Curiously this year it was scheduled on the same dates as NAHBS. We’d already committed to this one day only show when we figured out there was a conflict, so we decided to skip NAHBS this year and be back in a big way next year. If you’re a bicycle dealer attending this dealer-only show, please come say hi to us at booth 77.
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TECH SUPPORT
530-345-4371 ext. 202.
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